Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Stoker W. Walsh, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed as issued, extremely fine (3) £50-70

Sold with medal forwarding slip, named Grade Card and Temporary Pass; papers listing Daily Orders for H.M.S. Devonshire, October 1941; ‘Naval Message’ forms from the Devonshire, September/November 1941, including one dated 22 November 1941, relating to the search for survivors - this related to the sinking by the Devonshire of the German auxiliary cruiser Atlantis on that date; plus newspaper-clippings re the action; also ‘Naval Message’ from “King Neptune” to the Devonshire, 21 October 1941; together with associated papers, cards, sketch and photograph.

The German auxiliary cruiser Atlantis was formerly the Hansa Line ship Goldenfels. Armed with six 5.9 inch guns and torpedo tubes, she was responsible for capturing and sinking a number of allied vessels during 1940/41. She was sighted on the morning of the 22 November 1941 by an aircraft from the British heavy cruiser Devonshire whilst in the act of refueling the submarine U-126. The ship signalled to the aircraft that it was a British vessel, whilst the submarine immediately dived. The Captain of the Devonshire was suspicious of the ship’s true identity and eventually opened fire, sinking it after a short action. Because of the presence of an enemy submarine the Devonshire could not stop to pick up survivors. Fortunately the U-126 was still in the vicinity and able to recover most of the men, and only seven crew members were reported lost.